Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus



July 15, 1930. R. M. GILSON RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 23, 1928 I INVENTOR R /-7.G flson l'OlY.

Patented July 15, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oF-FicE ROBERT M. GILSON; or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ssreNoR To "run UNION SVVI'ICH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SKVISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA'IION OF PENNSYLVANIA RAILWAY-TRAPFIG-CONTROLLING APPARATUS Application and August 23, 192's; Serial No. 301,614;

My invention relates to railway tra'lfic controlling apparatus, and particularly to apparatus of the type involvingmeans for supplying periodically interrupted train governing current to the track rails, and governing means on the train responsive to such periodically interrupted trackway current. .More specifically, the present invention'relates to the tracliway portion of such apparatus.

'1' will describe two forms of apparatus e1n hodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

. In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing a modification of certain portions of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and also embodying my invention.

Similar reference characters refer to simiparts in each of the views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference characters 1 and 1 designate the track rails of a railway track along which trailic normally moves in the direction indicated by the ar-' These rails are divided by insulated joints 2 to form a plurality of successive track sections, of which only two complete sections A-B and 13-0, are shown in the drawing.

Each section is provided with a track circuit comprising a track battery 3 connected across the rails at the exit end of thesection, and atrack relay connected across the rails at the entrance end of the section; each track relayis designated by the reference character T with exponent corresponding to the lo cation. As here shown, a front contact 17 of each track relay T is includedin the track circuit-for the section next in the rear, the reason for this being that the section of'track shown in the drawing is a portion" of a block in *a lock and block system, and in systems of this character it is usual to control'eachtrack circuit by the track circuit'for the section next in advance, so that each trackrelay becomes de-energized when atrain enters the associated section and remains .de-energized as long as the train occupies any portion of the block. 7

The section to theleft of point A is provided with code transmitter G and section AB is provided with a simil'arcode transmitter G Each of these code transmitters comprises a contact 7 which is periodically opened and closed when tl'ietran'smitter is energized. Each transmitter is provided with a first coder relay designated by the reference character E with a suitableexponent, and with a second coder relay designated by the reference character F with a. suitable exponent. Each code transmitter is energized when either of the associated coderrelaysf'is energized. Considering code transmitter G for example, when relay E is energized, the circuit for transmitter G is from terminal X of a suitable source of alternatinfgfcurrent, through front contact 4 of relay E and the operating winding of transmitter G t'o ter minal Y of the'same source of current. When relay F is energized,t he circuit for trans-' mitter GA is from terminal X, through contact 5 of relay F and the operating winding of transmitter G to'terminal Y. The control of transmitter G by relays E and F is similar to the control of transmitter G Interposed between each track battery 3 and track rail 1, is the secondary of a transformer designated by the reference character relay T and the primary of transformer L? to terminal Y. It will be seen that this circuit is closed if and only if relay F is energized'. Q y

when coder relay F and trackrelay T are both energized, alternating current is supplied to relays E and F the circuit being as follows: from terminal X, through contactfti'ofrelay F4, front point of Contact 19 of relay T ,'wi re 22, relays E and F3 multiple','-wire 23, and common Ototerininal Y. RelayE responds"v to alternating current, and,consequen tly, this relay becomes energized when the circuit just trac d is closed. Relay F however, does notresppnd to alternating current, and, consequently, this relay remains open when the aforesaid circuitisclosed. I

\Vhen track relay T is Clo-energized, direct current is supplied to relays E and F the circuit being from the upper terminal of a rectifier R through the back point of contact 19 of relay T wire 22, relays E and F in multiple, wire 28, common wire O and wire 21 to the lower terminal of rectifier R The recto ier R is supplied with alternating current from the secondary of a transformer K, the primary terminals of which are connected with terminals X and Y of the source of alternating current. A resistance 16 is interposed between wire 22 and relay E to limit the flow of direct current through this relay. Relay F responds to direct current, and, consequently, this relay becomes energized when the circuit just traced is closed.

Track section BC is not provided with a code transmitter, but this section is supplied with periodically interrupted train governing current by transmitter G for section A E. When section B-C is occupied, so that its track relay is tie-energized, periodically interrupted current is supplied to the primary of a transforn'ier S, the circuit being from terminal X through contact 6 of relay F, contact of code transmitter G btlftliUOlllt of contact 19 of track relay T and the primary of transformer S to terminal Y. The secondary circuit for transformer S is from the right-hand terminal of this secondary through wire 25, front point of contact 18 of track relay T the primary of transformer L to terminal Y, and thence to common wire 0 and the left-hand terminal of thesecondary of transformer 8. At the same time the primary of a transformer U is supplied with periodically interrupted alternating current, the circuit being from the right-hand terminal of the secondary 'of transformer S, through wire 25, primary of transformer U, and wire 26 to common wire 0, and thence to the secondary of transformer S. The secondary of transformer U is connected with the input terminals of a rectifier R, and the output terminals of this rectifier are connected with a slow-releasing relay H, the characteristics of this relay be ing such that itsrcontact 8 remains continuously closed while it is supplied with periodically interrupted energy from transformer S. hen relay H is energized, the coder relays for the section next to the right of point C will be supplied with alternating current, and fo purposes of explanation I will assume that these coderrelay s are relays E and F at location; A. The circuit then passes from terminal K, through the front contact 8 of relayiH, front point ofcontact 19 oftracl: relay-T wire 21, relays E and F in multiple, wire 27, and common wire 0 to terminal Y. EelayE responds to this current to set the code transmitter G in gppratipn, but relay F does not respond. Ween track relay 1" becomes deenerglzed,

direct current is supplied to relays E and F from a rectifier R through back point of contact 19 of track relay T Rectifier R is supplied with alternating current from a transformer K The operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 is as follows:

hen no trains are present, all relays E and F are de-energized, so that all code transmitters G are likewise de -energized and coded train governing current is not supplied to the track rails of any section. I Will now as sume that a train occupies the section immediately to the left ofpoint A, so that relay F is energized. Code transmitter G is then energized through contact 5 of relay F with the result that this code transmitter is in operation. Periodically interrupted train governing current isthen supplied to transformer L through contact 6 of relay F and contact 7 of code transmitter G Relay E is supplied with alternating current through the front point of contact 19 of track relay T so that code transmitter G is in operation, but relay F is not energized, and so train governing current is not supplied to the rails of section A-B. VJ hen the train enters section A--B, it de-energizes track relay T so that the supply of alternating current to relay E and F is discontinued and direct current is supplied to these relays from the rectifier R through the back point of contact 19 of relay T Relay F therefore becomes energized, with the result that the operation of code transmitter G is continued, and with the further result that periodically interrupted train governing current is supplied to transformer L through contact 6 of relay F When the train enters section BC, it deenergizes track relay T with the result that transformer S is supplied with periodically interrupted alternating current through the back point of contact 19 of relay T contact 7 of code transmitter G and contact 6 of relay F. The secondary of transformer S supplies periodically interrupted train governing current to transformer L and so to the rails of section BC, and the same current is also supplied to transformer U with the result that relay H is energized: It'follows that relay E for the section next to the right of point C is energized, so that the code-transmitter for such section is set into operation,

. but relay F for such section is not energized,

and so train governing current is not supplied to the rails of this section. When the train enters section to the right of point C, it de-energizes track relay T and so discontinues the supply of alternating current to relays E and F for such section and supplies direct current to these relays from transformer K Relay F then becomes energized to continue the operation of the code transmitter and to also supply train governing current to ill-t) have? Referring now to Fig. 2, the apparatus shown in this view is similar to that shown in Fig. 1, the main difference being that the coder relay which causes approach energization of the code transmitter is a direct current relay; and the other coder relay is an alternating current relay. That is to say, inFig. 2the relays E and E respond to direct current, whereas the relays F and F respond to alternating current but not to direct current.

The operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, is as follows: Assuming that there is a train in the section immediately to the left of point A, relay PM will be energized, so that code transmitter G is in operation and coded train governing current is being supplied to the primary of transformer L This current is likewise supplied to the primary of a transformer P which is in multiple with the primary of transformer L and the secondary of transformer P supplies the periodically interrupted alternating current to the input terminals of a rectifier R The output circuit of rectifier It is from the righthand terminal of this rectifier through the front point of contact 19 of relay T wire 22, relays E and F1 in multiple, wire 23, common wire O, and wire 24 to the left-hand terminal of rectifier R Relay E responds to this current, but relay F does not. It follows that relay E becomes energized and closes at its front contact 10 the energizing circuit for code transmitter Gr so that this transmitter is set into operation. Each relay E is sufiiciently slow acting to remain closed during the intervals between the impulses of the train governing current supplied by the code transmitters G.

hen the train enters section A-B, it will dcenergize track relay T thereby opening at the front point of contact l9the circuit just traced for relays E and F and closing at the back point of contact 19 another circuit for these relays, which circuit includes the secondary of a transformer Q. The primary of transformer Q is constantly. supplied with alternating current from terminals X and Y, and so when the secondary circuit is closed, relays E and F3 are supplied with alternating current. Relay F responds to this current and s0 closes at contact 11 and auxiliary energizing circuit for code transmitter G This relay also closes at contact 12 the circuit for the primary of transformer L so that if the front point of contact 19 of track relay T is closed, periodically interrupted train governing current will be supplied to the rails of section AB. When the train enters section BC, it will de-energize track relay T thereby closing at the back point of contact 19 of this relay the primary circuit of a transformer Q This primary circuit includes contact 12 of relay F and contact 13 of the code transmitter G so that period .with a circuit which includes the front point of contact 18 of track relay T and also the primaries of transformers L and P It follows that train governing current is supplied to section BC and also to the input terminals of a rectifier R The output terminals of rectifier R are connected through the front point of contact 19 of track relay T with wire 21 which leads to the coder relays E and F of thefsection next to the right of pointC, and since the current supplied to this circuit is periodically interrupted direct current, relay E will beenergized to set into operation the code transmitter Gr for such section. y

The purpose of impedancel in series with each relay E is to limit the amount of alter nating current supplied to this relay, and the purpose of resistance '15, in series witheach relay F is to limit the amount of direct current which reaches this relay.

Although I have herein shown and -described only two forms of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications maybe made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scopeof myinvention. r

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim is: r v

1. In combination, a rear and a forward section ofrailway track, a normally de-energized code transmitter for said forward section, means for supplying periodically inter rupted train governing current to said forward sectionwhen said code transmitter is.

energized provided the forward section is 00- cupied, and means for setting said transmitter into operation when a train occupiessaid rear section and for continuing the operation of the transmitter while the train passes. through the forward section.

2. In combination, a rear and a forward section of railway track a normally de-ener- I glzed code transmitter for said forward section, means for supplying periodically interruptedtrain governing current to said forward section when said code transmitterv is energized provided, the forward section is occupied, and traffic conditions inadvan ce ofthe forward section are safe; and means for setting saidtransmitter into operation when. a tra n occuples said rearsectionand for continuin the operation f the transmitter while the train passes through the forward section.

3.]1'11 combination, a rearand a forward section of railway track, a code transmitter forv said forward amo -mammar de energized coder relays for said forward sec ti'on means"for energizingthefirst ofsaid 1 relays but not the second when a train occuing operation of the code transmitter for any sect-ion when elther of the associated coder pies the rear section, means for energizing the second relay when a train occupies the forward section, means for causing operation of said code transmitter while either of said relays is energized, and means for supplying periodically interrupted train governing current to the forward section when and only when said transmitter is in operation and said second relay is energized.

4. In combination, a rear and aforward section of railway track, a code transmitter for said forward section, two normally deenergized coder relays for said forward section, the first of which is responsive to alternating current and the second of which isresponsive to direct current but not to alternating current, means for supplying alternating current to said relays when a train occupies the rear section and for supplying direct current to said relays when a train occupies the forward section, means for causing operation of said code transmitter while either of said relays is energized, and means for supplying periodically interrupted train governing current to the forward section when and only when said transmitter is in operation and said second relay is energized.

5. In combination, a railway track divided into sections, a track circuit including a track relay for each section, a code transmitter for each section, two normally de-energized coder relays for each section, means operating when the track relay for a' given section is tie-energized to energize the second coder relay for such section, means operating when the second coder relay for agiven section is energized and the track relay for the section next in advance is energized to energize the first coder relay but not the second for such section in advance, means for causre'iays is energized, and means for supplying periodically interrupted train governing current to any section when the transmitter for such sectionis in operation and the associated second coder relay is energized.

6. In combination, a railway track divided into three successive sections, code transmitters for the first and third'sections but not for the second section, two normally de-energized coder relays associated with the'third section, means for. causing operation of the code transmitter for the first sectionwhile either the first section or the second section is occupied by a train, means for supplying periodically interrupted train governing current to the first section through the code transmitter for such section while such section is occupied, means for supplying periodically interrupted train governing current to the second section through said coce transmitter for the first section while a train occupies the second section, meanscontrolled by the train governing current supplied to said second section for energizing the first of said coder relays, means operating while the third section is occupied to energize the second coder relay, means for causing operation of the code transmitter for said third section while either coder relay is energized, and means for supplying periodically interrupted train governing current to said third section while the section is occupied and the associated code transmitter is operating.

7. In combination, a railway track divided into three successive sections, code transmitters for the first and third sections but not for the second, means for controlling the code transmitter for the first section by trafiic conditions in the first and second sections, means controlled by the transmitter for the first section for supplyingperiodically interrupted train governing current to the first and second sections, means controlled by suchtrain governing current for setting the code transmitter for the third section intooperation while the second section is occupied, and means for continuing the operation of the code transmitter for'the third section while a train occupies the third section and for supplying periodically interrupted train governing current to the third section through the last mentioned transmitter. Y

8. In combination, a railway track divided into sections, code transmitters for said sec tions, means for supplying train governing current to a section when the associated code transmitter is operating provided that the section is occupied by a train, and ineans for setting the code transmitter into operation when a train approaches the section and continuing such operation while the trainpasscs through the section.

9. In co nbination, a railway track divided into sections, code transmitters for said sections, means for supplying train governing current to a section when the associated code transmitter is operating provided that the section is occupied by a train, and means for setting the code transmitter for a given section into operation while a train occupies the section next in the rear and for continuing such transmitter in operation while the train occupies the given section.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

' ROBERT M. GILSON. 

